Canvas Login

Contact Us

Apply Now

A modern building with large glass windows displays the sign

Our Team
A woman with curly brown hair smiles, wearing a black blazer over a red top, accessorized with a gold pendant necklace. She is positioned against a plain white background. A hand writes mathematical equations on a green chalkboard, including \(x^2+y^2=Z\), \(x=\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}\), and \(V=\pi r^2 h\), using white chalk.

Susan Thomas, M.Ed.

Executive Director

Hello! My name is Susan Thomas, and I’ve had the pleasure of supporting students, teachers, and campus leaders throughout my 24 years as a certified Texas educator. I began my career as a middle school Math teacher before launching a new elementary campus for ResponsiveEd and earning a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and a Principal certificate. I am currently pursuing my Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. After serving as the Campus Director of Denton Classical Academy for 5 years, I joined ResponsiveEd’s Academic Team to create an in-house Alternative Certification Program. As the Director of Educator Preparation at ResponsiveEd, I’ve developed a variety of programs to support campuses throughout ResponsiveEd’s two charter systems including a Teacher Induction Program, an Aspiring Campus Leader Program, and ResponsiveEd 180 EPP, an Alternative Certification Program approved by the Texas Education Agency and State Board of Educator Certification.

A woman smiles while standing in front of a plain white background, wearing glasses, a polka dot blouse, and a coral cardigan. A person smiles while dissecting a squid, wearing gloves, safety goggles, and a plastic apron, seated at a table in a classroom setting.

Melissa Dubke, M.Ed.

Pedagogy & Science Instructor

Howdy! I am Melissa Dubke, and I am privileged to support aspiring educators and ResponsiveEd teachers with professional development and coaching in the best pedagogical practices. I’m actively pursuing my Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis on Teacher Education at Texas Tech University and hold a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University. Previously, I taught middle school science, social studies, and art, coached volleyball, served as the Middle School Science mentor teacher for ResponsiveEd, and led the ResponsiveEd Science department as the K-12 Science Director.

A person with curly hair and wearing a black shirt smiles warmly, standing against a plain, light-colored background. A person plays a grand piano on stage, seated on a bench, in front of burgundy curtains, creating a performance atmosphere.

Sydney Stauffer

Educator Preparation & Advancement Coordinator

Hello! My name is Sydney Stauffer, and I’ve worked with ResponsiveEd since 2021. I have enjoyed the opportunity to support campuses in the Academics department, assisting them with budgets, utilizing district-wide programs, coordinating instructional support, and overseeing the procurement of curriculum. My role in ResponsiveEd 180 EPP as the Coordinator is to help support applicants and candidates throughout the admission and training processes.

Educationally, I hold a B.A. Degree in Music, an A.A. Degree in Piano Performance and American Sign Language Interpreting, respectively. Professionally across the last 15 years, I have held roles in education through teaching piano and ESL, interpreting for Deaf middle and high school students, supporting toddlers through young adult clients with autism and other special needs as a Registered Behavioral Technician, and more recently, being the Support Assistant to the Development Director of Coram Deo Academy, followed by the VP of Academics for ResponsiveEd.

A hand writes mathematical equations on a green chalkboard, including \(x^2+y^2=Z\), \(x=\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}\), and \(V=\pi r^2 h\), using white chalk.

Irene Chacon

Program Director

Hello! My name is Irene Chacon, and I am honored to serve as the Program Director for ResponsiveEd 180 Educator Preparation Program. With over 20 years in Texas public education, I’ve dedicated my career to supporting students, teachers, and the systems that prepare them. My journey began in the classroom as a bilingual teacher before expanding into roles as an instructional coach, RTI coordinator, mentor liaison, and university instructor. I’m completing my Ed.D. in Reading and Literacy from Capella University. I also hold a Master’s in Educational Leadership, am certified as a T-TESS appraiser, and bring a deep understanding of instructional design, culturally responsive teaching, and educator development to this work. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of supervising and mentoring teacher candidates across several educator preparation programs. I’ve also served as an Educator Specialist at the Texas Education Agency, where I supported program compliance, led training, and contributed to the agency’s educator preparation communications.

A hand writes mathematical equations on a green chalkboard, including \(x^2+y^2=Z\), \(x=\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}\), and \(V=\pi r^2 h\), using white chalk.

Kenneth Griner

Assistant Program Director

Hello, I’m Kenneth Griner, and I am an accomplished educator and leader with a proven track record of driving growth and empowering others to reach their full potential. With over 15 years of experience in teaching, instructional leadership, and educator preparation, I have served as a teacher, instructional coach, and campus administrator, consistently earning recognition for student success and staff development. My work is grounded in fairness, integrity, and vision—qualities that have allowed me to positively impact classrooms, leadership teams, and educator preparation programs. My ultimate goal is to provide the tools, guidance, and opportunities that help future teachers thrive and make a lasting difference in the lives of their students.